Melbourne expecting star on-baller to ‘bounce back strongly’ following finger surgery

Melbourne football manager Alan Richardson concedes Clayton Oliver played against Brisbane under “a fair bit of adversity”.

Oliver was hampered by a finger injury during the clash, but Richardson is expecting the star midfielder to be back to his best against Richmond.

“In the last game (the finger injury did) have an affect,” Richardson said on 3AW Football.

Click PLAY to hear Alan Richardson’s full pre-game interview on 3AW

“But he’s been able to play under a fair bit of adversity…as soon as the game finished he was in for surgery.”

“We expect him to bounce back strongly.”

Richardson also weighed in on Brisbane opting to target Harrison Petty again, praising the Lions’ “pretty classy” response in the aftermath.